Insulating splice protector



" April 21, 1953 J, J, SIGMAN Re 23,649

INSULATING SPLICE PROTECTOR Original Filed Feb. 16, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

Reissued Apr. 21, 1953 INSULATING SPLICE PROTECTOR John J. Sigman,Cicero, Ill.

Original No. 2,571,771, dated October 16, 1951, Serial No. 8,560,February 16, 1948. Application for reissue October 14, 1952, Serial No.314,761

Claims.

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent butforms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italicsindicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to insulating and protecting the joints ofspliced electrical conductors and has more particular reference tocovers for tail joints and the like.

In this type of joint or splice the exposed wire ends are twistedtogether and soldered and the more common practice is to wrap tape aboutthe splice to provide an insulating cover. Also it has been known toprovide caps or covers of rubber or other insulating material forapplication to the twisted or spliced ends of the conductor wires. And,although such insulations when properly applied may meet therequirements of insurance underwriters, nevertheless it is found thatthey are not always effective over long periods and particularly whensubject to adverse Weather and moisture conditions and also vibrationconditions.

The principal object of my invention is, therefore, to provide animproved insulating splice protector which will effectively andsatisfactorily maintain the desired insulation protection.

Another object is to provide an insulating splice protector of this kindespecially adapted for its safety qualities, that is, its ability tomaintain the desired insulation regardless of interfering influencessuch as moisture and weather conditions under which the expansion andcontraction of the cover or sheath components in time cause looseningand displacement, particularly where tape and other bands or strips arewound or tied to secure the insulation. This safety feature of myinvention is also intended to eliminate loosening of a cover subject tovibration conditions such as occurs in machines, buildings, and thelike.

Another object is to provide an insulating splice protector which whenapplied is effectively locked against displacement and cannot be removedor impaired except bv deliberate manual apn-licati on.

Another object is to provide an insulating splice protector of the kinddescribed which is constructed in such simple and novel manner as topermit quick and easy application and also to permit manufacture at acomparatively low cost.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated by thoseskilled in this art as the invention becomes better understood byreference to the following description when considered in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective viewof one embodi- 2 ment of an insulating splice protector, embodying myinvention;

Figure 2 is a section through the protector taken substantially on thesection line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a conventional tail joint or splice of a kind to which myinvention is applied;

Figure e is a side view showing the first step in applying the protectorto the tail joint.

Figures 5 and 6 are side views showing further steps in applying theprotector; and

Figure '7 is a view from the front, that is, looking from the left ofFigure 6, showing the protector fully applied.

The embodiment shown in the drawings is illustrative of the principleand advantages of my invention, but it should be understood that theinvention may be applied in other embodiments and modifications. As hereportrayed my invention contemplates a onepiece molded body of insulationmaterial designated generally by II, preferably of rubber or suitablesynthetic materials. This body is shaped to provide a cover portion 12for receiving and covering the tail joint of spliced conductors or ofother spliced members, a retaining portion [3 shaped to engage the coverportion and to further protect the splice, and a connecting portion 14between the portions I2 and I3 preferably elastic or resilient andarranged to yieldingly retain the portion l3 engaged with the portionI2. In this embodiment each portion l2 and I3 is in the nature of asocket or pocket member, open at one end and closed at the opposite. Theportion l2 has an elongated passage [5 of comparatively small diameterto provide a tight fit to the tail joint 16 of the spliced conductorwires [7. The passage l5 preferably merges into an outwardly taperedopening I8 designed to receive and protect the adjacent sheath ends [9of the conductors. portion 13 preferably has a tapered socket 2| adaptedto fit over the exterior closed end of the portion [2 when applied inthe manner presently to be described. The portion 14 serves as aconnector between the socket portions to retain them in cooperativerelation, also as a protector band in the crotch between the conductorsand as a further sheath to the open end of the cover portion 12, andfurther as a yieldable means to retain the socket portion 13 in theholding or locked position.

The

The first step in applying the protector is to insert the tail jointfully into the socket passage l5, as shown in Figure 4. The free socketportion [3 is then passed through the crotch of the conductors l1 andthe portion I4 is drawn tightly down into the crotch to effectively sealand protect this area as in Figures 5-6. When sufficiently pulled downand reversed again to its upright direction the socket. 2| is insertedover the closed end of the socket portion 12 until fully seated thereon,as shown in Figure 1. In this condition the socket portion [3 isretained by its frictional engagement on the portion l2 and also by theelastic pull of the connecting portion [4. The portion l3 also providesa further protecting sheath and cover, reinforcing the cover provided bythe portion l2.

This construction provides a most effective in-. sulating cover for thespliced portion and the several component portions of the cover are sosecurely applied, locked, and retained, as to be proof against looseningor displacement by vi bration, accident, abrasion, or the most adverseweather conditions. In addition to these features, the several portionsof the cover provide a most effective seal and protection to the splicedconnection between the conductors. These several portions of the coverare retained and locked in position not only by the socket fitting ofone to the other but by the pull exerted in a direction to hold theportionlt seated over the projecting end of the portion 12. Thus, inorder to remove the cover the portion l3 must be forcibly pulled downagainst the tension of the connecting portion l4, until entirely clearof the portion 2. The portions, 13 and I4 may now be passed back throughthe crotch of the conductors to a position corresponding with Figure 4,wherein the socket portion [2 is free to be removed.

t will be apparent to those skilled in this art that modifications maybe made in the shape, size, and materials, in adapting my invention todifferent splices and to different manufacturing conditions. Forexample, the cover would be made in different sizes to suit differentranges of conductor sizes and splice sizes. Also, the principle hereindisclosed may .be embodied in different shapes to suit differentconductor conditions. Also, in the manufacture of this protector thestructure may be fabricated from plural parts or materials, or providedwith reinforcements to take care of heavy duty insulation requirements.1

From the foregoing it will be apparent that changes may be made indetails of construction without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as expressed in the appended claims, in which-- l'. claim:

1. An insulating protector for the spliced ends of conductors,comprising an insulating cover member provided with a pocket forreceiving and covering the spliced ends of the conductors, a deformablemember connected to said insulating cover member and adapted to bestretched around the crotch between the conductors, thereby to hold'saidinsulating cover member in place on the spliced ends of the conductors,a second cover member connected to said deformable member at a pointspaced from said first-named cover member and provided with a pocket forreceiving and covering said first-named cover member to hold saiddeformable member stretched around the crotch between the con-' ductors.

2. An insulating protector for the spliced ends of conductors,comprising an insulating cover member provided with a pocket forreceiving and covering the spliced ends of the conductors, saidinsulating cover member being provided with an elongated relativelynarrow pocket passage which terminates at its entrance end in a flaredopening, a, deformable member connected at one end to said insulatingcover member and normally extending away from said insulating covermember substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of saidpocket passage, said deformablemember being adapted to be stretchedaround the crotch between the conductors to hold; said insulating covermember in place on the spliced ends of the conductors, and a secondcover member connected to the other end of said deformable member andprovided with a tapered pocket for receiving and covering saidfirstnamed cover member to hold said deformablemembe str tched around thcro h et the conductors.

3. A one-piece insulating protector for the spliced ends of conductors,said protector being formed of th n wall d mo ded l ic in la i m terialand c m r s n a o e m mb r p vided wi h a po ke f r rece in d co in thespliced ends of the conductors, a connecting member conne t d to a d o rmember and adapted o be st tche amun he c o c e.- we n h conduc r t h lai ver m b r in p a e on he s ced ends oi e n c and a sec nd cov r membcon e t d o s id connecting member at a point spaced from saidfirst-named cover member and provided with a pocget for receiving andcovering said firstmed c v m mbe t ld. said o n n member stretchedaround the crotch between the conductors,

4. A one-piece insulating protector for the spliced ends of conductors,said protector being formed throughout of thin walled moided elasticinsulating material to have elasticity in all of its parts andcomprising a cover member provided with a pocket for receiving andcovering the spliced ends of the conductors, said cover memher beingprovided with an elongated relatively narrow pocket passage whichterminates at its entrance end in a flared opening, a connecting memberconnected at one end to said cover memher and normally extending awayfrom said cover member substantially at right angles to the longitudinalaxis of said pocket passage, said connecting member being adapted to bestretched around the crotch between the conductors to hold said covermember in place on the spliced ends of the conductors, and a secondcover member connected to the other end of said connecting member andprovided with a tapered pocket for receiving and covering saidfirst-named cover member to hold said connecting member stretched aroundthe crotch between the conductors.

5. An insulating protector for the spliced ends of two or more insulatedconductors disposed to defi a r t w en he co c o s, c mprising cminsulating cover member provided with a, pocket for receiving andsubstantially completely covering the spliced ends of the conductors, a,stretchable deformable member connected to said insulating cover memberand adapted to be stretched around the crotch between the conductors,thereby to hold said insulating cover member in place on the splicedends of the conductors, and means defining a preformedretaining memberhaving a tubular wall portion connected to said deformable memher andnormally extending substantially normal to said deformable member at apoint spaced from said cover member and provided with an opening ,forreceiving said cover member to hold said deformable member stretchedaround said crotch between said conductors. JOHN J. SIGMAN.

References Cited in the tile of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS I Number Number 10 201,703 470,233

Name Date Hamilton Mar. 21, 1916 Hamilton Oct. 5, 1920 Hall Dec. 5, 1939Joyce Jan. 12, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Aug. 9.1923 Great Britain Aug. 11, 1937

